23.10.2007

Crane crashes at Tilbury

A Container straddle carrier crane at Tilbury Docks in Essex toppled over yesterday trapping the operator in his cab.

The cab came crashing down from around 12 metres above the ground when the crane tipped over sideways.
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The fallen container crane

The 31-year-old operator had to be cut from the wreckage by firefighters before being airlifted to the Queen's Hospital in Romford by the Essex Air Ambulance.

He suffered injuries to his head, shoulders, neck and back but his condition is described as comfortable.

The cranes owner Tilbury Container Services, a division of Port of Tilbury would not make anyone available to comment.

A spokesman for the Health and Safety Executive said: "We are aware of the incident and we are investigating what happened."